Aerospace Diary

As New Delhi focuses on the indigenisation of a modern defence industrial capability through the ‘Make in India’ policy, there is a clear need for more efficiency in filling the gaps in procurement programmes. By Neelam Mathews T he Indian Army, with its force of 1.2 million troops, has prioritised the acquisition of personal equipment and small arms and pushed various Make-in-India projects, including the ongoing Fighting Infantry Combat Vehicle (FICV), the Future Ready Combat Vehicle (FRCV) and armoured mobility. The army is looking to transform, modernise and upgrade into an agile, versatile and networked force capable of operating across the spectrum of conflict. Its guiding vision is to ‘ensure capability enhancement and operational effectiveness to meet contemporary and emerging challenges’, a spokesperson told LWI. Already, 26 procurement projects have been fast-tracked and an additional 26 placed in the ‘urgent’ category. The new mantra is: speedy procurement needs private...

  Neelam Mathews     April 24, 2016 Long overlooked, helicopter emergency medical services ( HEMS ) in India will get a boost through a civil aviation requirement to be issued by the country’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation ( DGCA ) in mid-April. This is the first time separate regulations are being set for the  HEMS  industry in India. Issues to be addressed include eliminating the requirement for  HEMS  operators to file a flight plan and allowing helicopters to fly point-to-point without prior air traffic control clearance in airspace below 5,000 feet and outside of prohibited or restricted areas. The Ministry of Civil Aviation is simultaneously working on a plan to coordinate with the National Highways Authority of India, hospitals, insurance companies, on-ground ambulance services and airports to facilitate rapid medical evacuation. “ HEMS  is critical for India, which has a poor road infrastructure. There is...

By  Neelam Mathews , March 15, 2016 India’s HAL builds Do 228s under license by Germany’s Ruag, mainly for the Indian military. It also recently finished the first of four Do 228 subassemblies for which Ruag issued an export order some four months ago. (Photo: HAL) India's Hindustan Aeronautics ( HAL ) has assumed the mantle of responsibility for designing a regional transport aircraft ( RTA ) after nine years of failed attempts by Bangalore-based National Aerospace Laboratory ( NAL ).  HAL  has released a request for information ( RFI ) for collaboration with another airframer to build a 50- to 80-seat “medium-sized twin turbofan/turboprop” in India. The  RFI  calls for responses by April 11. Plans call for the first prototype to take off in five years. The project would cost approximately $1 billion for three prototypes and certification. “We are looking to the government for support and have submitted a proposal,” said  HAL  chairm...

Neelam Mathews March 2016 Asian Aviation

Neelam Mathews March 11, 2016 They say one should watch one's mouth even in good times.  A reader just reminded us how Mallya in his heydays would brag that one day all Blue Jet Airways tails would be Red. He was ofcourse referring to Jet succumbing to his all mighty power! All of a sudden there seems to be some logic in sayings like 'Don't put your cart before your horse!" Quint Ex Employees and Jet staffers too, I hear, are salivating in the fact that Mallya had to bow down to use Jet Airways First Class to flee. "How the mighty have fallen,' they snigger. "Today, the joke is on him," said our reader. One wonders, however,  if justice will really be served. As for us, we continue to empathize with the hundreds who lost their jobs.                            

LAND WARFARE 07th March 2016 - 11:05 by  Neelam Mathews  in Delhi  India's Future Infantry Combat Vehicle (FICV) programme has moved a step closer to the starting blocks with industry putting forward an expression of interest (EoI). The US$10 billion  Future Infantry Combat Vehicle  programme has attracted formal EoIs from eight of the initial ten vendors. Shephard  has learned that Rolta and Punj Lloyd have decided not to submit proposals. The government-owned Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) has already been down-selected as one manufacturer and the MoD will provide 80% of prototype development costs for two other vendors that will be shortlisted by year’s end. Bets are on Tata Motors to be a frontrunner...more in Shephardmedia

Neelam Mathews Feb 22, 2016 Indian airports will need to cater for up to 222 million additional passengers over the next 10 years to keep pace with demand, Airports Authority of India (AAI) officials estimate. Passenger traffic in India grew by 21% in 2015. The AAI plans capital expenditure of approximately USD3 billion in the next five years, mostly on airport development projects. "India is expecting an annual 8% growth in air traffic in the next few years and infrastructure will have to be in step with this," said SV Satish, AAI executive director of safety. "We are looking at more joint ventures, of which one government-to government MoU [memorandum of understanding] has already been signed with Singapore," he told  IHS Jane's   . Under the MoU, approved by the Indian parliament, Changi Airports International will operate and manage Ahmedabad and Jaipur airports. Teams from Singapore and India will also collab...

Neelam Mathews Marc 1, 2016 During the annual budget announcement on 29 February 2016, Indian minister of finance Arun Jaitley revealed plans to develop 160 unused airports and airstrips. The airports will be developed at a cost of USD7 million to USD14 million each, and "10 of 25 defunct airstrips will be developed in partnership with state governments", Jaitley said. There have been mixed reactions from aviation and finance experts. "If effectively managed, these investments would provide a huge impetus to regional airlines and help in unlocking significant potential in civil aviation. This is likely to be undertaken under the PPP....Read more in Janes Airports Review (Subscription)

  Neelam Mathews  March 3, 2016 The Indian government is aggressively promoting its Regional Connectivity Scheme, which encourages charter operators to run scheduled services, including some operating business jet types. To support that program by making new aircraft purchases more viable and help stimulate business aviation in general, the Punjab Haryana Delhi ( PHD ) Chamber of Commerce, supported by India’s Business Aircraft Operators Association ( BAOA ), has appealed to central government for an interest subsidy to bring prevailing interest rates from Indian finance agencies more in line with international rates for small-aircraft loans. Bhupesh Joshi,  CEO  and director of Indian operator Club One Air, told  AIN , “The present rate of interest is very high in India; at retail commercial rates of 14- to 16 percent, making it unviable. We have suggested the interest rate be capped at 9 percent.” To ensure lending institutions have le...